Three-dimensional advertisements

ABSTRACT

Computer-implemented methods for advertising a 3D object in a web browser are provided. In one aspect, a method includes obtaining modeling data for a 3D object, formatting the modeling data for display in an advertisement in a web browser, and providing the formatted modeling data to the web browser for display in the advertisement. The advertisement includes a display of at least a portion of the 3D object based on an initial default view or a user selected view based on a query received from the user. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/469,038 entitled “Searchable 3D Object Viewer,” filed on Mar. 29, 2011, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND Field

The present disclosure generally relates to the visualization of three-dimensional objects using a computer.

Description of the Related Art

Current three-dimensional models for advertised products in web browsers restrict how a viewer can interactively view the advertised product. For example, a three-dimensional model of an advertised automobile displayed in a web browser will not allow the user to view the automobile from any viewing position, or traverse the various layers of the automobile (e.g., from outside the automobile, through the automobile's exterior, and into the engine of the automobile) from any angle while adjusting the visibility of the layers based on the current viewing position.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a computer-implemented method for advertising a 3D object in a web browser is provided. The method includes obtaining modeling data for a 3D object, formatting the modeling data for display in an advertisement associated with a user search query in a web browser, and providing the formatted modeling data to the web browser for display in the advertisement. The advertisement includes a display of at least a portion of the 3D object based on an initial default view or a user selected view based on a query received from the user.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a system for advertising a 3D object in a web browser is provided. The system includes a memory that includes modeling data for a 3D object, and a processor. The processor is configured to execute instructions to format the modeling data for display in an advertisement in a web browser, and provide the formatted modeling data to the web browser for display in the advertisement. The advertisement includes a display of at least a portion of the 3D object based on an initial default view or a user selected view based on a query received from the user. The query is an input from a pointing device directing a view of the 3D object.

According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, a machine-readable storage medium includes machine-readable instructions for causing a processor to execute a method for advertising a 3D object in a web browser is provided. The method includes obtaining modeling data for a 3D object includes an outer surface and at least one internal structure beneath the outer surface, formatting the modeling data for display in an advertisement associated with a user search query in a web browser, and providing the formatted modeling data to the web browser for display in the advertisement. The advertisement is configured to be displayed with results from the user search query, and includes a display of at least a portion of the 3D object based on an initial default view or a user selected view based on a query received from the user. A view of the 3D object includes at least one of a rotation of the at least a portion of the 3D object, an opacity of the outer surface and the internal structure, a level of zoom of the at least a portion of the 3D object, and a determination of whether at least one of the outer surface and the internal structure are selected.

It is understood that other configurations of the subject technology will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein various configurations of the subject technology are shown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, the subject technology is capable of other and different configurations and its several details are capable of modification in various other respects, all without departing from the scope of the subject technology. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate disclosed embodiments and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosed embodiments. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary architecture for advertising a 3D object in a web browser.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary client and server in the architecture of FIG. 1 according to certain aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary process for advertising a 3D object in a web browser.

FIGS. 4A-4F are exemplary screenshots of advertising a 3D object in a web browser on the exemplary client of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary computer system with which the client and server of FIG. 1 can be implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a full understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one ordinarily skilled in the art that the embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced without some of these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail so as not to obscure the disclosure.

The disclosed system receives a three-dimensional model of an advertised product, processes the three-dimensional model of the advertised product for display in a web browser, and then presents the three-dimensional model of the advertised product in a three-dimensional space within a web browser to allow a viewer to freely view and traverse the advertised product from and through any position. The disclosed system, which runs within the web browser, allows the viewer to further interact with the three-dimensional model using various user interfaces, such as a layer slider specific to the three-dimensional model, and a search box for searching for labels associated with portions of the three-dimensional model.

Exemplary Architecture

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary architecture 100 for advertising a 3D object in a web browser. The architecture includes servers 130 connected to clients 110 over a network 150. The servers 130 are configured to host and/or provide modeling data of a 3D object, such as a vehicle, appliance, electronic device, or other product, including related content such as web pages and user generated or provided content. In certain aspects, the modeling data of the 3D object includes a polygon mesh that defines the shape of a polyhedral object in 3D space that is representative of the 3D object. The modeling data can also include textures, bump maps, and normal maps, and other known approaches to making a polygonal mesh appear like a real object. The modeling data can further include customized light sources and a custom background color for a scene. The modeling data can yet further specify that certain parts of the polygonal mesh are translucent (e.g., a car window). The modeling data can also include identifiers of portions of the 3D object that can be searched using a query received from a user. For example, the modeling data of the 3D object can represent an inanimate object such as an automobile, where the user in response to entering the query “engine” is automatically shown the engine of the automobile. As another example, the modeling data of the 3D object can represent a 3D object having no internal structure, such as a sculpture, where the user in response to entering the query “head” is automatically shown the head of the sculpture. For purposes of load balancing, the modeling data can be hosted either on one or many separate servers 130.

The servers 130 can be any device having an appropriate processor, memory, and communications capability for hosting the modeling data of the 3D object and related content. The clients 110 to which the servers 130 are connected over the network 150 can be, for example, desktop computers, mobile computers, tablet computers, mobile devices (e.g., a smartphone or PDA), set top boxes (e.g., for a television), video game consoles, or any other devices having appropriate processor, memory, and communications capabilities. The network 150 can include, for example, any one or more of a personal area network (PAN), a local area network (LAN), a campus area network (CAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), a broadband network (BBN), the Internet, and the like. Further, the network 150 can include, but is not limited to, any one or more of the following network topologies, including a bus network, a star network, a ring network, a mesh network, a star-bus network, tree or hierarchical network, and the like.

Each of the clients 110 is configured to receive part or all of the modeling data of the 3D object and display the modeling data to a user of the client 110 for the user to view in a 3D space, search, edit, and annotate. The user can view, at varying levels of detail, the 3D object from a position at any point outside or inside of the object, and can move the position of the view using an input device such as a keyboard, mouse, or a touchscreen. In certain aspects, the position from which the user can view the 3D object can be constrained. For example, if the user is changing the user's viewing position in an interior portion of the 3D object (e.g., “flying” around inside structures), the user's point of view can be constrained by their navigation such that if the user's view position intersects the polygonal mesh, the user's view position “bounces off” the mesh instead of passing through the mesh. The user can also to choose adjust the opacity of portions of the 3D object, such as by reducing the opacity of a surface layer to zero in order to see through the surface layer and view an inner layer. The user can further search the 3D object by entering a query. For example, when the user types “suspension,” the opacity of the shell, structural design, and cabin interior of an automobile is reduced and the position of the view is adjusted so that the user can see the suspension of the automobile. These features will be discussed in more detail herein below.

The modeling data of the 3D object can be retrieved by the client 110 from the server 130 using a 3D enhanced application, such as a web browser or mobile application. A 3D enhanced web browser includes an integrated 3D modeling and searching capability that is built-in to the web browser, e.g., a part of the web browser by default, as a standard, at the time the web browser is downloaded and installed on the client 110. An exemplary 3D modeling and searching capability is provided by WebGL, a 3D graphics application programming interface. Exemplary 3D enhanced web browsers include web browsers pre-installed with WebGL.

Exemplary Client and Server

FIG. 2 is a block diagram 200 illustrating an exemplary client 110 and server 130 in the architecture 100 of FIG. 1 according to certain aspects of the disclosure. The client 110 and the server 130 are connected over the network 150 via respective communications modules 118 and 138. The communications modules 118 and 138 are configured to interface with the network 150 to send and receive information, such as data, requests, responses, and commands to other devices on the network. The communications modules 118 and 138 can be, for example, modems or Ethernet cards.

The server 130 includes a processor 136, the communications module 138, and a memory 132. The memory 132 includes viewable modeling data of the 3D object 140 (“modeling data of the 3D object 140”), a web page 144 for instructing a web browser on how to model and search the 3D object (hereinafter “object browser web page 144”) using the modeling data of the 3D object 140, and user generated content 142 related to the modeling data of the 3D object 140. The client 110 includes a processor 112, the communications module 118, an input device 116, an output device 114, and a memory 120. The memory 120 of the client 110 includes the web browser 124 and optionally includes a local copy of the object browser web page 126 and a local copy of the modeling data of the 3D object 122. Thus, the object browser web page 144 and the modeling data of the 3D object 140 can be locally stored or remotely stored. A determination of whether to store a local copy of the object browser web page 126 and a local copy of the modeling data of the 3D object 122 can be made by the web browser 124. For example, the web browser 124 can include a setting of whether to store files in a local cache, or the object browser web page 144 itself can determine, for example, to stream only necessary information from the modeling data of the 3D object 140 to the client 110 and not store it in the memory 120 of the client.

The local copy of the object browser web page 126 and the local copy of the modeling data of the 3D object 122 are loaded into the memory 120 of the client 110 after a user of the client 110 (hereinafter simply “the user”) enters a command into the web browser 124 to send a request to the server 130 for the object browser web page 144 (e.g., as part of another web page, such as search results) and related modeling data of the 3D object 140. The processor 136 of the server is configured to receive the request from the web browser 124, and provide to the web browser 124 of the client 110, in response to the request, the modeling data of the 3D object 140 and the object browser web page 144. The object browser web page 144 can be, for example, a web page dedicated to browsing the 3D object 140. The object browser web page 144 can also be, for example, a web page that includes search results in response to a user search query as well as an interface to browse the 3D object 140 as an advertisement related to the search results.

The client 110 can store the local copy of the object browser web page 126 and the local copy of the modeling data of the 3D object 122 in its memory 120. In the alternative, the web browser 124 of the client 110 downloads the modeling data of the 3D object 140 on demand (e.g., streaming), and/or an initial portion of the modeling data of the 3D object 140 is stored locally (e.g., as the local copy of the modeling data of the 3D object 122) to begin the display of the 3D object on the output device 114 and the remaining portion of the modeling data of the 3D object 140 is downloaded as requested or needed by the enhanced web browser 124 for display on the output device 114.

The processor 112 of the client 110 is configured to execute instructions, such as instructions physically coded into the processor 112, instructions received from software in memory 120, or a combination of both. For example, the processor 112 of the client 110 is configured to execute instructions from the local copy of the object browser web page 126 causing the processor 112 to display, in the web browser 124 on the output device 114, at least a portion of the 3D object based on an initial default view, or a user selected view based on a query received from the user using the input device 116. As discussed herein in more detail, a view of the 3D object can include features to provide an opacity of the different portions of the 3D object, rotation of the 3D object, zoom, whether any portion of the 3D object has been selected, the state of any interfaces displayed, parameters related to customization of the 3D object generated by a user, and any annotations on the 3D object. The output device 114 can be a computer display, such as a touch screen display. The query can be an alphanumeric input, such as “engine” or “4” (for “four-wheel drive”), or input from an input device 116. Similarly, the query can be an alphanumeric input indirectly related to a portion of the 3D object (e.g., for an automobile, the entry “choke” can map to a carburetor) based on, for example, pre-defined mappings, user-generated contents, or implicit connections, such as prior user history. The query can also be received by voice input. Exemplary input devices 116 include a keyboard, mouse, microphone, or touch screen display. The query can further be provided from a menu, such as a quick menu of links. For example, a menu can be organized by collections of portions of the 3D object, such as a “left half” and “right half” of the 3D object. Using the input device 116, the user can view any portion of the 3D object in the web browser 124 from any angle at any position inside or outside the 3D object. The user can also use the input device 116 to search the 3D object and create, edit, and delete user generated content 142 related to the 3D object that is displayed on the output device 114.

Although the block diagram 200 illustrates, in the same memory 132 of a single server 130, the modeling data of the 3D object 140, the user generated content 142, and the object browser web page 144, the modeling data of the 3D object 140, the user generated content 142, and the object browser web page 144 can be in different memories and/or on different servers 130 as discussed above with reference to FIG. 1.

Obtaining Modeling Data for a 3D Object on the Client

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary process 300 for advertising a 3D object in a web browser of FIG. 2 using the web browser 124 of the exemplary client 110 of FIG. 2. Although process 300 is described with reference to FIG. 2, process 300 is not limited thereto and can be performed by other systems/configurations.

The process 300 begins by proceeding from step 301 to step 310 when the server 130 begins to prepare an advertisement with a 3D object for display. In step 310, the server 130 obtains modeling data for the 3D object 140 and formats the modeling data for display in an advertisement in the web browser 124. Formatting the modeling data 140 for display in the advertisement can include associating at least one user query command with at least one user interface control. For example, a user query command of pressing the “+” button on the keyboard 116 can be associated with a user interface control of zooming in to the 3D object 140. Next, in step 330, the formatted modeling data 140 is provided to the web browser 124 on the client 110 for display in an advertisement. The advertisement can be displayed, for example, in a web page, electronic message, mobile application, or social networking page.

In certain aspects, the modeling data 140 for the 3D object can be provided to an advertisement generator (e.g., or similar software application) on the server 130, and the advertisement generator can generate the advertisement in response to being provided the modeling data 140. The modeling data 140 for the 3D object can, for example, be selected from a library of modeling data for 3D objects. Modeling data for a 3D object can be provided to the library by an administrator of the server 130, or by users (e.g., user-generated content). Any portion of the 3D object can be authored by a user, such as by using a graphics utility connected to the authoring process. The authoring process can, for example, assign a default viewing position for the user-generated portion, or automatically choose a viewing position based on the size of the user-generated portion and the viewing position. A user can further configure light sources of a 3D object, including moving a light source or changing a color of the light source over time. A user can also customize background colors and background images for a 3D object within a scene.

In step 340, the client 110 displays the 3D object in the advertisement in the object browser web page 126 based on an initial default view of the 3D object or a user selected view of the 3D object based on a query received from a user as shown in FIG. 4A. The process 300 then ends in step 350.

Viewing the 3D Image in a Web Browser

Having obtained modeling data of the 3D object at the client 110 from the server 130 using the web browser 124, FIG. 4A illustrates a screenshot 400 of an initial default view of a 3D object 402 in an advertisement 404 as displayed on the output device 114. The advertisement 404 is included in a search results page 408. In exemplary FIGS. 4A-4F, the 3D object is an automobile. The initial default view shows an outer surface of the 3D object 402, a convertible roadster automobile. Although an automobile is used in the screenshots, another 3D object could be used.

The search results page 408 includes search results 424 associated with a search query for “convertible roadster.” A 3D advertisement 404 related to the search query, namely a 3D advertisement 404 for a convertible roadster, is displayed alongside the search results 424 with a hyperlink 406 to more information on the 3D advertisement 404. The 3D advertisement 404 includes a 3D object 402, namely, a 3D model of a convertible roadster. A user can interact with the 3D advertisement 404 within the search results page 408 by, for example, double clicking on the 3D advertisement 404 to adjust a zoom level of the 3D object 402. As another example, a user can interact with the 3D advertisement 404 within the search results page 408 by clicking and dragging within the 3D advertisement 404 to rotate the 3D object 402. FIG. 4B illustrates a screenshot 410 of a user selected view of the 3D object 402, namely, after a user has clicked and dragged the 3D object 402 of FIG. 4A to a different view position. A larger interface for viewing and interacting with the 3D advertisement 402, as illustrated in FIG. 4C, can be accessed by activation of the hyperlink 406.

FIG. 4C illustrates a screenshot 420 of a user interface for interacting with the 3D advertisement 402. The user interface of FIG. 4C includes the 3D object 402, an input field 404 for entering a query to be searched, a position control 406 for moving the position of the current view, a zoom control 408 for adjusting the zoom of the current view, and an opacity adjustment interface 418 (hereinafter referred to as “slider 418”) having a movable indicator 418 a for adjusting the opacity of the outer surface and/or internal structures (collectively referred to as “layers”) of the 3D object 402. The user interface also includes a message 426 from an advertiser for the 3D advertisement 402 by which a user can obtain more information on the advertised good or service.

Any part of the 3D object 402, whether as a whole or in part, let alone any part of the outer surface or the internal structures, are often referred to herein as “portions” or “items” of the 3D object 402 and can be displayed by the web browser 124 using the modeling data of the 3D object 140. Furthermore, in addition to the displayed user interface controls 406, 408, and 418, the user can use the input device 116, illustrated by cursor 401, to change the position of the view and the level of zoom of the view of the 3D object 402 to view any portion of the 3D object 402 from any angle (e.g., not limited to any axis). For example, the user can view the engine from the outside of the engine or the inside of the engine. As another example, the user can press and hold a button on a mouse input device 116 while dragging the cursor 401 across the screen in any direction in order to rotate the 3D object 402 in that direction, and use a mouse wheel or equivalent motion on a trackpad to control zooming and other 3D motions. FIG. 4D illustrates a screenshot 430 of the user interface of FIG. 4C after the 3D object 402 has been rotated.

In certain aspects, the 3D object 402 is viewable using a modified axial navigation model. Vertical user camera position control (e.g., up and down mouse gestures or keystrokes) shifts the 3D object 402 vertically in the view and horizontal user camera position control (e.g., left and right mouse gestures or keystrokes) rotate the 3D object 402 horizontally. The axial navigation model allows significant visibility of a vertically oriented model without the navigational complexity and disorientation that can occur in 3D displays with more degrees of navigational freedom. As such, the 3D object 402 can be a vertically or horizontally oriented model. In order to facilitate viewing of the top or bottom of a vertically oriented 3D object 402 presented axially, an additional feature added to the camera view modifies the navigational surface of the 3D object from which the camera view is positioned. Specifically, instead of a limited X/Y navigation over a notional cylinder, the navigational surface of a vertically oriented 3D object 402 is a cylinder with hemispherical ends (e.g., at the top and bottom). The modification permits viewing of the top or bottom of a vertically oriented 3D object 402 while retaining the navigational simplicity of the X/Y model.

Local Data Retrieval and Remote Data Streaming

The processor 112 of the client 110 is configured to retrieve, either from the local copy of the modeling data of the 3D object 122 on the client 110 or the modeling data of the 3D object 140 on the server, sufficient modeling data to render the 3D object 402 in response to a query from the user. For example, based on the position of the user's cursor 401 and the associated changing of the view of the 3D object 402, the modeling data 122 or 140 is being retrieved, from the memory 120 on the client 110 or the memory 132 of the server 130, for processing by the processor 112 and display on the output device 113. In certain aspects, the amount of modeling data 122 or 140 retrieved depends on the position of the cursor 401 (e.g., within the 3D space) and the current view.

In certain aspects, the modeling data of the 3D object 140 is retrieved from the memory 132 of the server 130 for storage on the client 110 all at once, as discussed above with reference to FIG. 3. In certain aspects, the modeling data of the 3D object 140 is streamed from the memory 132 of the server 130 as needed by the processor 112 of the client 110 for displaying on the output device 113 to render the 3D object 402 in response to a query from the user.

Specifically, the level of detail of the displayed portion of the 3D object 402 can be streamed to the client 110 for display by the processor 112 based on the proximity of the user's current view to the portion of the 3D object 402. In certain aspects, lower-resolution textures of the 3D object are first downloaded by the client 110, and higher-resolution textures are later downloaded if the user's current view increases in proximity to a portion of the 3D object 402. In certain aspects, an author of a 3D object can specify (e.g., via a utility connected with a 3D object authoring process) that some portions of the 3D object should be downloaded before others due to, for example, differing importance or aesthetic interest (e.g.,, to have the 3D object appear to be constructed sequentially in a visually appealing and animated way). Furthermore, levels of detail need only be downloaded once. For example, if a lower-resolution texture A is downloaded for a portion of the 3D object 402, and it is followed by a download of a higher-resolution texture B for the same portion, the higher-resolution view of the portion of the 3D object 402 is synthesized incrementally by the higher-resolution texture B being limited to the difference from the lower-resolution texture A (e.g., texture B is added into texture A). This is accomplished using standard web browser image file formats and scripting capabilities.

By way of example, the current view in FIG. 4C shows the external surface of the 3D object 402, the automobile, where the engine would not normally be visible. Accordingly, the processor 112, based on instructions from the local copy of the object browser web page 128, can request that only the modeling data for the outer surface of the 3D object 402 be provided to the client 110 in order to render the current view. If the user changes the current view to another view (e.g., of the engine) or requests a more detailed rendering of the current view, either of which requiring additional modeling data of the 3D object 140 for rendering, then that additional modeling data can be streamed from the server 130 to the client 110 for rendering.

In certain aspects, the 3D object 402 can be previewed using two-dimensional (2D) previewing. The server 130 can rotate the 3D object 402 in increments and capture a view from each position as an image. The images can then be appended together, for example, using a thumbnail strip (“thumbstrip”) graphic. The sequence of images can then be provided for presentation in an application that does not have integrated 3D modeling and searching capabilities. The sequence of images, when displayed sequentially, would appear as a 2D movie of the associated rotation of the 3D object 402. Such a 2D movie can be included for display along with the search results 424 in FIG. 4A for web browsers that are not 3D enhanced.

In certain aspects, the 3D object 402 can be superimposed by a user on a 2D object. For example, a consumer viewing an advertisement of a 3D car can superimpose the 3D car onto a 2D image of the user's garage.

Bookmarks

The initial default view of the screenshot 420 in FIG. 4C is associated with the URL 412 a displayed, “http://searchresults/3dadl.html#.” The address or URL 412 a for each view (also referred to as a “bookmark”) is unique to the view and can be shared with other users to allow the other users to see the same view the sharing user sees. The bookmark captures the view of the 3D object 402 in a URL, and includes parameters identifying the view, such as an amount of time to display the view, the opacity of the layers of the 3D object 402, rotation of the 3D object 402, zoom, whether any portion of the 3D object 402 has been selected, the state of the slider 418, parameters related to customization of the 3D object 402 generated by a user, and any annotations on the 3D object 402. In certain aspects, these parameters are included after a hash “#” symbol in the URL 412 a. When parameters of the 3D view change (e.g., portions are selected/deselected, portions change opacity, the position of the view changes), the parameters in the URL are updated. In certain aspects, the update occurs after a predetermined amount of time in order to avoid creating a significant number of URL entries (e.g., in the URL storage history) of the web browser 124. Such state representation within the URL 412 a allows for navigation back to previous views by pressing a previous page view button in the web browser 124 (e.g., a practical form of “undo” without having to implement an undo mechanism).

The bookmark can also be shared with another user by sending a link to the URL (e.g., URL 412 a) to the other user by, for example, simply copying the URL and pasting it into an email. When the other user loads the shared URL in a web browser, the other user will see the same view seen by the user who shared the URL.

Transcending Layers and Automatic Hiding and Showing Layers

When the position of the current view of the 3D object 402 changes in response to a query that is received from the user, the position can pass through, “transverse,” or “transcend” through the layers (e.g., transcending can include both ascending through a layer or descending through a layer). At the same time, the opacity of the layers of the 3D object 402 changes.

For example, returning to the exemplary screenshot from FIG. 4D, the current view is of the outer surface of the 3D object 402. The layers of the 3D object 402 are completely opaque as illustrated by the position of the indicator 418 a on the slider 418, which is at a leftmost position.

FIG. 4E is an exemplary screenshot 440 of a view of a portion of the 3D object 402 in the web browser 124, namely, a view of the mechanical layer of an automobile after the opacity of more external layers (e.g., the shell, structural design, and cabin interior) of the 3D object 402 have been modified. As illustrated in FIG. 4E, as a user slides the indicator 418 a towards the right, the opacity of the layers are automatically adjusted so that the user can view internal portions of the 3D object 402. During this process, the view can also display to the user a transcending through the three most external layers, the shell, structural design, and cabin interior of the automobile, as those layers are made less opaque so that the layer at which the engine is present, the mechanical layer, is more viewable to the user (not illustrated). The processor 112 is configured to adjust, based on the position of the user's current view, the level of opacity of the layers, and the processor 112 is further configured to transcend the current view from a first point on one side of a layer, through the layer, to a second point on the other side of the layer.

Layer Slider

In certain aspects, the slider 418 can be switched from a global adjustment mode illustrated in FIG. 4E to an individual adjustment mode. The processor 112 is configured to display the layer slider 418, which includes a labels button 418 h for choosing to display selected labels of the portions of the 3D object 402 from the current view. The slider 418 also includes a selection mechanism 418 g for selecting between a global adjustment mode of layers, namely the outer surface and/or internal structures, of the 3D object 402, and an individual adjustment mode of layers. In the individual adjustment mode of layers, a vertical slide indicators is displayed for each layer, namely, a vertical slide indicator for the shell layer 418 b, a vertical slide indicator for the structural design layer 418 c, a vertical slide indicator for the cabin interior layer 418 d, a vertical slide indicator for the mechanical layer 418 e, and a vertical slide indicator for the wheel and suspension layer 418 f. Each vertical slide indicator is configured to move along a y-axis and adjust the opacity of their respective 3D layers.

In the global adjustment mode of FIG. 4E designated by a first selection of the selection mechanism 418 g, the slider 418 includes a single horizontal slide indicator 418 a configured to move along a x-axis. The position of the vertical slide indicator 418 a along the x-axis jointly affects the opacity of layers of the 3D object 402. For example, when the horizontal slide indicator 418 a is at a leftmost position, as illustrated in FIG. 4C, all layers of the 3D object 402 are opaque and the view is limited to the external surface of the 3D object 402. As the horizontal slide indicator 418 a moves along the x-axis of the slider 410, layers of the 3D object 402 become less opaque in order of rightward movement, e.g., first the shell layer becomes less opaque, then the structural design layer becomes less opaque, and so on, until the wheel and suspension layer is made less opaque. When the horizontal slide indicator 418 a moves left along the x-axis of the slider 418, layers of the 3D object 402 become more opaque in the opposite order that they were made less opaque when the horizontal slide indicator 418 a moved right along the x-axis of the slider 418.

In the individual adjustment mode designated by a second selection of the selection mechanism 418 g, the slider 410 includes individual vertical slide indicators configured to move along the y-axis for each layer 418 b-f. Each of the layers is configured to become less opaque (i.e., more transparent) as their corresponding vertical slide indicator moves downward. If a vertical slide indicator is in a bottommost position, the corresponding layer is transparent (i.e., not opaque). Similarly, if a vertical slide indicator is in an intermediate position between a uppermost position and a bottommost position, the corresponding layer would be partially opaque.

In certain aspects not illustrated, both the horizontal slide indicator 418 a and the vertical slide indicators can be displayed together, such that the adjustment of one type of indicator on the slider 418 automatically affects the position of the other type of indicator on the slider 418. Furthermore, although slide indicators are disclosed as being vertical or horizontal, slide indicators can be provided in various other directions, along various other axes, or without a single axes.

Selection and Groups

When a portion of the 3D object 402 is selected, it is made more opaque/solid than neighboring portions of the 3D object 402, and an appropriate label (e.g., in the context of an automobile or mechanical device, a mechanical label) for the selected portion is displayed. In certain aspects, multiple portions of the 3D object 402 can be selected, either simultaneously or serially. A portion or multiple portions of the 3D object 402 can be selected in response to a query by a user, whether the query is a search using the input field 404 or a selection or using a input pointing device 116 (e.g., by clicking with a mouse or by using a lasso-type pointer or using marquee selection).

In certain aspects, the selection of multiple portions of the 3D object 402 can be selected by rendering the portions (e.g., model entities) of the 3D object 402 in distinct flat colors in an off-screen buffer, and then checking the pixel color under the cursor position. Multiple levels of selection can exist, such as, for example, when a portion(s) of the 3D object 402 is selected, the remaining portions of the 3D object 402 are made translucent on a first level and the selected portion(s) are made opaque on a second level. The user can choose between levels of selection via a user interface gesture such as, for example, by again selecting (e.g., via a mouse click) the selected portion of the 3D object 402.

The query by the user can include use of a selection tool that allows selection of one or multiple portions of the 3D object 402, and that can further allow the user to select one or multiple portions of the 3D object 402 to hide or otherwise reduce the visibility of those portions so as to better view other portions that were obscured by the now-hidden portions. In certain aspects, a selected portion of the 3D object 402 can be fixed to a certain opacity level (e.g., completely opaque or completely transparent) by selecting that portion, selecting a label associated with that portion, and/or switching to a “pin” mode. In pin mode, an additional interface can be provided that allows: portions of the 3D object 402 to be “pinned” (e.g., fixed to a certain opacity level), pinned portions of the 3D object 402 to be highlighted, pinned portions of the 3D object 402 to be listed (e.g., which checkboxes to pin/un-pin portions of the 3D object 402), and groups of pinned portions of the 3D object 402 to be unpinned.

In certain aspects, the user can select and isolate any portion of the 3D object 402 for viewing. For example, the user can select a user-defined portion of the suspension of the 3D object 402 using a lasso type tool and make the rest of the 3D object 402 transparent, and then view the user-defined portion of the suspension from any angle. This is accomplished, for example, using selection-specific navigation. In certain aspects, selection-specific navigation extends axial model navigation by generating a bounding box around one or more selected entities (e.g., selected via search or mouse click). A navigational surface, such as a cylindrical or bihemispherical surface, is fitted to the bounding box. Thus, when a user selects a portion of the 3D object 402, the user is automatically zoomed in to a closer view of the selected portion of the 3D object 402 that centers upon the selected portion. The remaining portions of the 3D object 402 can be made more transparent (e.g., invisible), thereby allowing the user to focus on the selected portion of the 2D object without increasing the complexity of the axial navigation paradigm. When the user deselects the portion of the 3D object 402, the user can be zoomed out to a farther-out view in which the rotational axis of the view passes through the center of the 3D object 402.

When a portion of the 3D object 402 is selected, including by selecting a label associated with that portion, the view of the selected portion can be refined and/or enhanced by adjusting the opacity of certain portions of the 3D object 402 as well as adjusting the zoom. The selected portions of the 3D object 402 can be related (e.g., in response to a query for “four wheel drive,” the tires, wheels, and suspension of the automobile can be selected together) or arbitrary (e.g., the user can select any number of portions of the 3D object 402 by clicking them with a mouse). These selected portions can be identified and stored as a group. The information on the group can be stored remotely in the user generated content 142 database in the memory 132 of the server 130. The group can be an arbitrary group of 3D object portions or a related group of 3D object portions.

Selective Labeling

The exemplary screenshot 440 of FIG. 4E illustrates a labeling option 418 h on the slider 418 to display all relevant labels in the current view has been activated and the indicator 418 a has been moved up to increase the opacity of the skeletal system layer. The current view of FIG. 4E is identified by and retrievable with the displayed URL 412 c.

The exemplary screenshot 440 of FIG. 4E includes a display of several labels 432, 434, and 436 identifying portions of the 3D object 402. The displayed labels 432, 434, and 436 are selected for display from a larger group of labels reflecting any portion of the object 402 within the bounds of the viewing area of the browser 124. The labels 432, 434, and 436 that are selected for display are selected based on a determination of large structures displayed in the browser 124 from among the layers of labels that can be displayed and the plurality of structures that are displayed. Thus, in certain aspects, the selected labels that are displayed are limited to the layer of the 3D object being viewed and limited to a given area of the view (e.g., like a “flashlight”). For example, in certain instances, labels that are within a certain radius surrounding the current position of the view or a mouse pointer are displayed.

In certain embodiments, labels can be selected for display based on other determinations, such as by weighting. For example, based on a current view of a 3D object 402, a determination is made regarding the visibility of portions of the 3D object 402, the size of portions of the 3D object 402, the opacity of portions of the 3D object 402, the proximity of portions of the 3D object 402 to the current view, and the order of layers of the 3D object. Heavier weights are assigned to portions of the 3D object 402 that are more visible, larger, more opaque, closer to the current view, and nearer to the outermost layer of the 3D object. A determination is then made to display labels for portions have sufficient weight, such as a weight greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold weight.

Annotations

A user, such as an advertiser or consumer, can further generate annotations for any portion of the 3D object 402 for display in the web browser 124. In certain aspects, annotations are a special type of label that otherwise follow the rules for displaying labels disclosed above and are searchable using the input field 404. Annotations include user-defined labels. The user can assign annotations to one or many portions of the 3D object 402, such as by creating an arbitrary group of portions of the 3D object 402 and assigning the arbitrary group an annotation. These annotations can be shared in, and displayed with, the bookmarks described above. For example, the content, location, and display parameters of an annotation can be stored as part of the URL of the bookmark. The annotations can be stored in the user generated content 142 database in the memory 132 of the server 130 for accessibility and viewing by other users.

The annotations can include text describing the associated 3D object portion, such as a definition of the associated 3D object portion or an explanation of a feature related to the associated 3D object portion. The annotations can be used to inform consumers, such as by providing annotations with explanation or annotations that are pricing features.

In certain embodiments, the user can generate an annotation by selecting (e.g., via a mouse click) a surface of any portion of the 3D object 402. At the point of selection, a visible marker can be displayed on the model, and a textual annotation or other form of content (e.g., image, hyperlink, video) can be associated with the marker. As the user navigates around the 3D object 402, the annotation is shown floating near the marker with its position continuously updated with any moving of the marker. The annotation can be shown or hidden depending on the presence of other content or the visibility or opacity of the portion or layer of the 3D object 402 with which the annotation is associated. Markers and their associated annotations can additionally be highlighted as part of a textual search on the model.

3D Object Library

A user can use a 3D content generation tool such as AutoCAD, 3dx Max, or Maya to generate a 3D object 402 for display in the web browser 124. In certain aspects, an online application can be provided as a 3D content generation tool that allows authoring of 3D content directly in the web browser 124 using authoring aids such as still images, 3D images, diagrams, 3D reference volumes, and other 3D content authored by other user. The 3D generated content can be shared amongst users such that a library of 3D objects 402 can be made available to users for editing and placement in the 3D advertisement 404. For example, generated 3D content can be uploaded to a shared location and tagged for later indexing and retrieval.

Bookmark Tours

Bookmarks (e.g. URLs 412 a, 412 b, and 412 c) can be shared amongst users to create a video or “tour.” Specifically, several bookmarks can be loaded in sequence to display several views of the 3D object 402 in sequence. For example, a first URL for a view of a front view of an automobile can be loaded, followed by the loading of a second URL for a side view of the automobile, followed by the loading of a third URL for a view of the back of the automobile. These three URLs, when loaded together, give the appearance of a tour of traveling around the exterior of the automobile due to the user's view of the 3D object 402 transcending between the three views, for example, using animation. A user can view multiple bookmarks representing a tour, for example, by receiving a single address associated with the multiple bookmarks, and loading the single address in the 3D enhanced web browser 124 by clicking on the single address. The multiple bookmarks are then loaded by the 3D enhanced web browser 124 in response to the loading of the single address, for example, due to the single address being a shortened URL associated with the multiple bookmarks.

Accordingly, the processor 112 of the client 110 is configured to execute instructions from the local copy of the object browser web page 126 causing the processor 112 to receive, by a user, a first address associated with a first view of the 3D object 402 and a second address associated with a second view of the 3D object 402. The processor 112 is also configured to sequentially display the first view of the 3D object 402 in the 3D enhanced web browser 124 on the output device 114 based on the first address and the second view of the 3D object 402 in the web browser 124 based on the second address. The current view of the user transcends from the first view of the 3D object 402 in the web browser 124 to the second view of the 3D object 402 in the web browser 124 as described above.

The first address and the second address can be associated with Uniform Resource Locator (URL) links received from a second user (e.g., they can be pointers), or the first address and the second address can be URLs themselves. The display of the first view and the second view in the web browser 124 can be in response to the user activating the URL links for the first address and the second address. The transition of the current view of the user transcending from the first view of the 3D object 402 to the second view of the 3D object can be animated.

Additionally, a single address can be provided that is associated with the first address and the second address, such that, when the single address is loaded in the web browser 124, the first address and the second address are received or otherwise loaded by the web browser 124. When each of the single address, the first address, and the second address are URLs, the first address and the second address can be associated with the single address using a URL shortener.

Advertisement Builder

FIG. 4F illustrates a screenshot 450 of an advertisement builder interface 446. The advertisement builder interface 446 is configured to be a front end web page interface for user access. A user, such as an advertiser, can provide modeling data of a 3D object 140 to the advertisement builder interface 446 the advertisement builder interface 446 can generate a 3D advertisement 404 using the 3D object 140. In certain aspects, the user can provide additional parameters to the advertisement builder interface 446 in order to specify the output 3D advertisement 404 (e.g., colors, text, animations, etc.).

The screenshot 450 of the advertisement builder interface 446 includes exemplary instructions to the user on how to generate a 3D advertisement. The exemplary instructions include providing modeling data of a 3D object 140 in either 3ds Max or Maya format 442 and providing a list of parts (e.g., labels) of the modeling data of the 3D object 140.

Exemplary Computer System for the Server and/or Client

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary computer system with which the clients 110 and servers 130 of FIG. 1 can be implemented. In certain aspects, the computer system 500 may be implemented using hardware or a combination of software and hardware, either in a dedicated server, or integrated into another entity, or distributed across multiple entities.

Computer system 500 (e.g., clients 110 and servers 130) includes a bus 508 or other communication mechanism for communicating information, and a processor 502 (e.g., processor 112 and 136) coupled with bus 508 for processing information. By way of example, the computer system 500 may be implemented with one or more processors 502. Processor 502 may be a general-purpose microprocessor, a microcontroller, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a Programmable Logic Device (PLD), a controller, a state machine, gated logic, discrete hardware components, or any other suitable entity that can perform calculations or other manipulations of information.

Computer system 500 can include, in addition to hardware, code that creates an execution environment for the computer program in question, e.g., code that constitutes processor firmware, a protocol stack, a database management system, an operating system, or a combination of one or more of them stored in an included memory 504 (e.g., memory 120 and 132), such as a Random Access Memory (RAM), a flash memory, a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM), an Erasable PROM (EPROM), registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD, or any other suitable storage device, coupled to bus 508 for storing information and instructions to be executed by processor 502. The processor 502 and the memory 504 can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.

The instructions may be stored in the memory 504 and implemented in one or more computer program products, i.e., one or more modules of computer program instructions encoded on a computer readable medium for execution by, or to control the operation of, the computer system 500, and according to any method well known to those of skill in the art, including, but not limited to, computer languages such as data-oriented languages (e.g., SQL, dBase), system languages (e.g., C, Objective-C, C++, Assembly), architectural languages (e.g., Java, .NET), and application languages (e.g., PHP, Ruby, Perl, Python). Instructions may also be implemented in computer languages such as array languages, aspect-oriented languages, assembly languages, authoring languages, command line interface languages, compiled languages, concurrent languages, curly-bracket languages, dataflow languages, data-structured languages, declarative languages, esoteric languages, extension languages, fourth-generation languages, functional languages, interactive mode languages, interpreted languages, iterative languages, list-based languages, little languages, logic-based languages, machine languages, macro languages, metaprogramming languages, multiparadigm languages, numerical analysis, non-English-based languages, object-oriented class-based languages, object-oriented prototype-based languages, off-side rule languages, procedural languages, reflective languages, rule-based languages, scripting languages, stack-based languages, synchronous languages, syntax handling languages, visual languages, wirth languages, and xml-based languages. Memory 504 may also be used for storing temporary variable or other intermediate information during execution of instructions to be executed by processor 502.

A computer program as discussed herein does not necessarily correspond to a file in a file system. A program can be stored in a portion of a file that holds other programs or data (e.g., one or more scripts stored in a markup language document), in a single file dedicated to the program in question, or in multiple coordinated files (e.g., files that store one or more modules, subprograms, or portions of code). A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers that are located at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network. The processes and logic flows described in this specification can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing one or more computer programs to perform functions by operating on input data and generating output.

Computer system 500 further includes a data storage device 506 such as a magnetic disk or optical disk, coupled to bus 508 for storing information and instructions. Computer system 500 may be coupled via input/output module 510 to various devices. The input/output module 510 can be any input/output module. Exemplary input/output modules 510 include data ports such as USB ports. The input/output module 510 is configured to connect to a communications module 512 (e.g., communications module 118 and 138). Exemplary communications modules 512 include networking interface cards, such as Ethernet cards and modems. In certain aspects, the input/output module 510 is configured to connect to a plurality of devices, such as an input device 514 (e.g., input device 116) and/or an output device 516 (e.g., output device 114). Exemplary input devices 514 include a keyboard and a pointing device, e.g., a mouse or a trackball, by which a user can provide input to the computer system 500. Other kinds of input devices 514 can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well. For example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input. Exemplary output devices 516 include display devices, such as a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, for displaying information to the user.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the client 110 and server 130 can be implemented using a computer system 500 in response to processor 502 executing one or more sequences of one or more instructions contained in memory 504. Such instructions may be read into memory 504 from another machine-readable medium, such as data storage device 506. Execution of the sequences of instructions contained in main memory 504 causes processor 502 to perform the process steps described herein. One or more processors in a multi-processing arrangement may also be employed to execute the sequences of instructions contained in memory 504. In alternative aspects, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement various aspects of the present disclosure. Thus, aspects of the present disclosure are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software.

Various aspects of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented in a computing system that includes a back end component, e.g., as a data server, or that includes a middleware component, e.g., an application server, or that includes a front end component, e.g., a client computer having a graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a user can interact with an implementation of the subject matter described in this specification, or any combination of one or more such back end, middleware, or front end components. The components of the system can be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication, e.g., a communication network. Examples of communication networks include a local area network and a wide area network.

Computing system 500 can include clients and servers. A client and server are generally remote from each other and typically interact through a communication network. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other. Computer system 500 can also be embedded in another device, for example, and without limitation, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile audio player, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, a video game console, and/or a television set top box.

The term “machine-readable storage medium” or “computer readable medium” as used herein refers to any medium or media that participates in providing instructions to processor 502 for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including, but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as data storage device 506. Volatile media include dynamic memory, such as memory 504. Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wire, and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise bus 508. Common forms of machine-readable media include, for example, floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, or any other medium from which a computer can read. The machine-readable storage medium can be a machine-readable storage device, a machine-readable storage substrate, a memory device, a composition of matter effecting a machine-readable propagated signal, or a combination of one or more of them.

While this specification contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of particular implementations of the subject matter. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations, one or more features can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various system components in the aspects described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all aspects, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single software product or packaged into multiple software products. 

1-24. (canceled)
 25. A computer-implemented method comprising: identifying, by a server responsive to a request for content to be displayed in a content slot within an information resource of a content publisher, a content item including a 3D object for display within the content slot of the information resource, the content item associated with a content provider different than the content publisher of the information resource and the 3D object associated with modeling data for displaying multiple views of the 3D object, the content item including a first portion of the modeling data for displaying the 3D object in a first view and computer executable instructions for associating one or more input commands with one or more respective user interface controls provided to modify the first view; transmitting, by the server to the client device, the content item for displaying the 3D object within the content slot of the information resource; receiving, by the server from the client device, instructions to modify the first view of the 3D object to a second view responsive to receipt of an input command of the one or more input commands by the client device; identifying, by the server responsive to the instructions to modify, a second portion of the modeling data, the first and second portions to display the second view of the 3D object in the content item; and transmitting, by the server, the second portion of the modeling data to the client device to display the 3D object in the second view in the content item instead of the first view.
 26. The computer-implemented method of claim 25, wherein identifying the content item includes generating the content item.
 27. The computer-implemented method of claim 26, wherein generating the content item includes: providing a user interface to allow the content provider to provide the modeling data associated with the 3D object; and incorporating the first portion of the modeling data and the computer executable instructions for associating the one or more input commands with the one or more respective user interface controls in the content item.
 28. The computer-implemented method of claim 27, wherein the modeling data for the 3D object is selected from a library of modeling data for 3D objects associated with the user interface.
 29. The computer-implemented method of claim 25, wherein the information resource includes at least one of a web page, mobile application, or social networking page.
 30. The computer-implemented method of claim 25, wherein the 3D object comprises an outer surface and at least one internal structure beneath the outer surface.
 31. The computer-implemented method of claim 30, wherein the second view of the 3D object comprises at least one of a rotation of a portion of the 3D object, an adjusted opacity of the outer surface or the internal structure, a level of zoom of a portion of the 3D object, or a determination of whether at least one of the outer surface and the internal structure are selected.
 32. The computer-implemented method of claim 25, further comprising generating a preview of a transcending from a third view of the 3D object to a fourth view of the 3D object using a plurality of predetermined two-dimensional images.
 33. The computer-implemented method of claim 25, further comprising displaying at least one identification label associated with at least one item of the 3D object within the second view based on an input command received by the client device.
 34. The computer-implemented method of claim 25, further comprising generating a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of the second view of the 3D object in the content item and sharing the URL with a second client device by sending a link, wherein, when the second client device activates the link, the second view of the 3D object in the content item is displayed on the second client device.
 35. A system for advertising a three-dimensional (3D) object in a web browser, the system comprising: a memory comprising modeling data for a 3D object; a processor configured to execute instructions to: identify, responsive to a request for content to be displayed in a content slot within an information resource of a content publisher, a content item including a 3D object for display within the content slot of the information resource, the content item associated with a content provider different than the content publisher of the information resource and the 3D object associated with modeling data for displaying multiple views of the 3D object, the content item including a first portion of the modeling data for displaying the 3D object in a first view and computer executable instructions for associating one or more input commands with one or more respective user interface controls provided to modify the first view; transmit, to the client device, the content item for displaying the 3D object within the content slot of the information resource; receive, from the client device, instructions to modify the first view of the 3D object to a second view responsive to receipt of an input command of the one or more input commands by the client device; identify, responsive to the instructions to modify, a second portion of the modeling data, the first and second portions to display the second view of the 3D object in the content item; and transmit the second portion of the modeling data to the client device to display the 3D object in the second view in the content item instead of the first view.
 36. The system of claim 35, wherein in identifying the content item, the processor is configured to generate the content item.
 37. The system of claim 36, wherein in generating the content item, the processor is configured to: provide a user interface to allow the content provider to provide the modeling data associated with the 3D object; and incorporate the first portion of the modeling data and the computer executable instructions for associating the one or more input commands with the one or more respective user interface controls in the content item.
 38. The system of claim 37, wherein the modeling data for the 3D object is selected from a library of modeling data for 3D objects associated with the user interface.
 39. The system of claim 35, wherein the information resource includes at least one of a web page, mobile application, or social networking page.
 40. The system of claim 35, wherein the 3D object comprises an outer surface and at least one internal structure beneath the outer surface.
 41. The system of claim 35, wherein the second view of the 3D object comprises at least one of a rotation of a portion of the 3D object, an adjusted opacity of the outer surface or the internal structure, a level of zoom of a portion of the 3D object, or a determination of whether at least one of the outer surface and the internal structure are selected.
 42. The system of claim 35, wherein the processor is further configured to generate a preview of a transcending from a third view of the 3D object to a fourth view of the 3D object using a plurality of predetermined two-dimensional images.
 43. The system of claim 35, wherein the processor is further configured to cause display of at least one identification label associated with at least one item of the 3D object within the second view based on an input command received by the client device.
 44. The system of claim 35, wherein the processor is further configured to generate a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of the second view of the 3D object in the content item and sharing the URL with a second client device by sending a link, wherein, when the second client device activates the link, the second view of the 3D object in the content item is displayed on the second client device. 